Improvement in time-locks



. ,6 Sheets-Sheet 1. M. A. DALTON.

TIME-LOCKS. No. 194,896. Patented sept. 4,1877.

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6 Sheets-Sheet 3. M. A. DALTON.

` TIME-LOCKS. No. 194,896. Patented SWL-4,1871,

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M. A. DALT'0N.

. TIME-LOCKS.

No. 194,896, Patented sept.4,1's77.

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N.PEIERS, PHOTO LTHOGRAPHER WASHINGTON C l Sheets-She'et.. M. A. DALTON.

TIME-Longs. v No. 194,896. Patented se pt.4,1a77.

N-PETERS, PHOTQLITHOGRAPHER. WASlNGToN. D C.

PATNT FFICE.

MILTON A. DALTON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

ll-VIPROVEMENT IN TIME-LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,896, dated September 4, 1877; application filed June 30, 1877.

T0 all whom yit may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON A. DALToN, of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have-invented a new and useful Improvement in Time-Locks, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to time -locks for safes. The object of it is to combine with a time-movement and a lock an intermediate connecting-link. This link is to be braced against its adjunct in the time-movement. When the adjunct is at rest the link, coacting with the lock, will assist in setting the tumblers in a position to receive the dogging angle-bar, or a dog to be removed from the bolt, and thus permit the safe to be opened; but when this adjunct is in motion the link willnot act conjointly with the lock, and will not then beveifective in opening the safe.

The intermediate connecting-link is the first part of the invention. n

The second part is the arrangement of devices attached to and acted upon by the timepiece, for the purpose of regulating the times during which the adjunct in the time-piece, which is connected with the link, shall move or remain fixed.

The third part is the devices connected with the lock which act in conjunction with the intermediate device or link to accomplish the desired result.

The fourth part is the means shown of attaching the lock to the safe, whereby it is placed beyond injury when violence is used against the safe or door.

In the drawings, Figure l is a top view of the time-lock with the oombination-tumblers and the regulating mechanism of the timepiece shown in section. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, taken in line w x, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the upper and lower fingers which hold the false tumblerswhile the combination for opening the safe is being set. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the lock. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section through the intermediate lilik and its connections, looking in the direction of the time-movement. This Fig. 5 also shows the mode of connecting the lock to the wall or door of the safe.

The remaining figures show modifications of the invention, and will be particularly de scribed hereinafter.

A is the spring-case. It revolves on shaft F, and has upon it two cog-wheels, B and B2. Wheel'B drives the pinion E, and through it the clock-work. The clock-work drives pini011 H, which revolves1 upon hub S. Wheel B2 drives pinion C, shaft D, and,'through pin-A ion J, which is driven by a ratchet and click on shaft D, the `dial mechanism.

F is a stationary shaft. The hub S, collarv R, and ratchet G, which, in this instance, constitute the adjunct heretofore mentioned, are permanently connected together, and iitted to revolve upon it, and are held in'place by aI screw passing' through the collar and hub, and projecting into an annular groove in the shaft. The hub T is fitted to slide upon shaft-F, and is adjustably connected to hub S by tenons projecting from its inner end, entering corresponding mortises in hub S. The purpose of this arrangement is to couple and uncouple the ratchetGand the clock-movement, through the dial mechanism, by bringing the wing V on hub T in or out of contact with the wing U on the face of pinion H. ois a pin in shaft F, which enters a slot in hub T, and holds it, and the parts connected with it, stationary when the mechanisms are disconnected, as inv Fig. 1, but enters the annular groove in the front of the hub, and permits the parts to ref volve when the mechanisms are connected. N is a cylindrical shell, fitted over the hub T. At its inner end it has keys passing through it into an annular seat in the hub T. The arm` L and cups W and X are permanently connected with the shell N, and the Whole operated by the dial, through-the pin Q,which vpasses through the arm and one ofthe holes in thedial.

Upon the outer end of shaft F is secured a projecting cap, f. This serves the double purpose of steadying the shell N, and as a bearingfor the spiral spring N1, which is compressed between it and the cup X for the purpose of forcing the shell N and the parts connected with it back, so as to connect the mechanismsv when the slotp in cup W comes opposite pin P in shaft F. The screw K, which passes through the cap of shell N into shaft F, and has a collar which bears against the inner side of the cap, is for the purpose of withdrawing the shell to uncouple it from the pinion H, so that the ratchet G may remain stationary while the dial mechanism moves. M is a rod, which passes through shell N. It is the guide which, by being pushed in, comes in contact with wing V and stopsv the hub T with its slot opposite pin o, to allow hub T to be drawn forward.

It should be understoodthat the whole purpose of the time-piece mechanism is to regulate the period during which the ratchet-wheel G shall remain stationary and the period` during which it shall revolve, as, while stationary, it furnishes the support to the connectinglink between the time-piece and the lock, and while moving, its teeth, which furnish the support, are continually moving away from the link, thus withdrawing the support necessary to operate the lock.

The combinationlock differs from the ones now in use only in having one or more of its tumblers titted with additional or false tumblers, which can only be set up by the lockarbor, with the assistance furnished by the connecting-link between the lock and time mechanism when its ratchet G is at rest.

The parts F1, G1, and H1 form the tumbler proper. The ring E1, with its projections e1 c2, is the false tumbler.'y The piece H1 is turned with a bevel upon the part of its periphery which receives the .ring E1. y This ring is slipped to its place, and the piece G1 is turned to the proper size and .shrunk onto H1, thus holding ring E1 to its place. The ring E1 is fitted to be carried by the pieces H1 G1 by friction, when not obstructed by the connecting-link, and to let them turn while it is held still. The notches in the false tumblers are in the right position to receive the dogging an gle-bar when the projections e1 e2 are against the con meeting-link, and the ratchetwheel G at rest, as in Fig. 2. e

The intermediate connecting-link between the adjunct in theftime-piece and the false tumblers of the combination-lock consists, in this instance, ofthe following parts: A pawl, K1, reaching into thevtime-lock, rests on the teeth of the ratchet G, and is pivoted to a coupling, k, which is loosely connected at k1 to the upper arm of lever l, fulcrumed on fixed stud E1". The other end of the coupling k terminates in a series ot' branches, to each of which a pawl, L1, is pivoted, adapted to engage the projections e1 on, the corresponding false tumblers E1. These pawls L1 are upheld in the position shown in Fig. 2 by thecoupling-that is to say, they cannot descend below that position, but they may be lifted.

yThe coupling is linked by parallel bars 7a2 and k2 to tixed arms on stud E2, so thatthe coupling can move only in parallel lines, and, consequently, any pressure exerted against pawls L1 by the projections e1 on the false tumblers will cause them to gradually move away from said projection until the latter can escape.

The lever l is acted upon by a spring, l1, which tends to throw the lever against the fixed projection l2 on the case, in which position the pawls L1 are ready to act on the false tumblers. The lower arm of lever lis pivoted to the upper arm of lever Z3, which is fulcrumed on stud E3. arm this lever Z3 is connected to a stud on a multiple pawl, M2, adapted to engage the pro jections e2 on the false tumblers. A link, Z1, connects this pawl at D2, also, with one of the fixed arms on stud E2 to maintain its (loggingngers at the proper elevation. This multiple pawl M2 serves to set and hold the false tumblers in moving the regular tumblers in one direction, while the pawls L1 set and hold the false tumblers when the regular tumblers are moved in the opposite direction, and either the one or the other set of pawls acts as a guard against disengaging the false tumblers by the turning ot' the regular tumblers, according as the latter' are revolved in one direction or the other. v

A1, Fig. 5, is a portion of the wall or door of a safe. one is shown infull in the figure,) are brackets secured to it. a2 a2 are spring-washers, of rubi ber or other suitable material, compressed between the e brackets and llock-case, which is held firmly between these and out of contact with theinner wall of the door.

Thevoperation of the device and thek mode .of setting the time-piece are as follows: The pin Q is withdrawn from the dial, and arm L revolved until the slot p iu cup W comes opposite pin P. This'pin occupies a definite position known to the operator, and the slot in cup W is placed directly opposite to arm L, or in some definite relation to it, so that the slot can be readily brought opposite to the said pin P by setting larm VL. The clock-movement/is then started, if not already agoing, and the guide-rod M pushed inward past the rpath of wing V on hub T, which, in this -instance, is assumed to be interlocked with wing on pinion H. The clock-movement continues to turn hub T until its wing strikes rod M. This brings pin O on shaft F opposite to the slot in hub T. The shell N, together with hub T, is then drawn forward by screw K, and rod M withdrawn. The parts are now in the position shown in Fig. l. The dial is revolved to the left until the pin o1 on the dial is moved the desired number ot' hours from the stump P1 at the top of Vthe case. The arm Lis now revolved the required number of hours, and connected with' the dial by passing pin' Q through one of its holes. This determines the time the dial may move and the ratchet-wheel Gremain stationary, and hence the lock opened by one knowing the combination. The screw K-is now driven back until its collarA strikes cap f. The lpin P, which is now within cup W and opposite to a solid part of the bottom ofthe same, keeps the shell N and its connected parts in their withdrawn position until the dial brings the slot p in the bottom of the cup By a slot in the lower a., of which there are four, (only 'opposite pinvP, when the spring N1 forces it back, disconnecting hub T from shaft F at the same time, or thereabout, that the wing V on said hub is engaged by wing U on pin ion H. The hub T now turns with pinionH, and its prongs are interlocked with hub S. This hub and the ratchet G xed thereto will also be revolved, and the safe cannot be opened until the pin o1 on the dial comes against the stump P1, Fig. 4, and stops the time-piece, (unless by accident to some of the parts it stops sooner,) when the adjunct, including the ratchet-wheel G, which is the'support 'to theintermediate link, becomes and remains iiXed, and the permutation-tumblers may be set and the safeopened.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the time-piece is located above the permutationtumblers. E4 is a fixed support secured to the bottomI ofthe case. F4 and G4 are weigh ts to counterbalance the Weight ofthe connectinglink, composed of the parts B4, G4, D4, and E5, to be presently described more in detail.

A4 is a smooth wheel, instead of the ratchet'- wheel G shown in the form ofthe adjunct previously described. H4 is the false tumbler. C4 is an arm with a friction-brake, B4, at its upper end. D4 is a piece secured to arm G4. It has vertical play, guided by pins secured in the case, and Vhas a piece, E5, hinged to its lowerend, so as to allow the projection e1 on the false tumbler to pass, when revolved to the right, without moving the parts D4 C4. While the Wheel A4 is at rest, if the tumbler H4 is ref volved to the left, its projection, -striking against the front of piece E5, will turn the link, so as to bring the brake B4 thereof against the wheel A4, and the notch of the tumbler will be held in a position to receive the dogging angle-bar; but when wheel A4 is revolving, if the brake B4 is pressed against it, it will be carried around, and the connecting-link will be drawn up out of contact with the projection on tumbler H4, and allow the tumbler to revolve past it, when, the pressure on the brake being removed, it will drop to the position shown in the gure. The mechanism just described is another t'orm ot` the Vadjunct'and the intermediate link.

Fig. 7 shows a means of (logging the angle# bar. In this figure E6 is ythe angle-bar, hung upon a notched piece, C6, which slides in guides KS K6, secured to' the case. The piece G6, which carries the pawl H6, and the angle-piece F6, which carries lever B6, are fulcrumed on pins l6 J 6, which are fixed in the case, and are hinged together between the pins. A6 is the projection on the tumbler, and M6 the ratchetwheel ot' the time-piece. While this is revolving, if the projection A6 should strike against BB, it will, as the piece G6 is not held stationary by its pawl, turn the piece F6 upon its fulcrum, and carry it back with the lever B, which has its fulcrum in the pin f6, projecting from F6, without moving the piece O6; but, should the ratchet M6 be stationary, the piece Gi will be held rigid, and hold the piece Ffi rigid.

' lock, the same as inthe preceding figures.

Should the tumbler now be revolved, the projection A6 would turn the lever B5 on its ful crum f6, and slide the piece O6 until its notch is brought under D6, the supporting-'link of the anglebar, and allow the bar to fall into the notches. The hook D6 rests against a spring, L, which permits it to swing` back to engage the bar G6 whenthe angle-bar is lifted.

In the modifications vshown in Figs. 8 to 17, false tumblers are dispensed with, and in all of them the connectinglin-k is composed of the parts intermediate between the adjunct or ratchet-wheel in the timepiece, and a tumbler or-other operative part ot' the combination In Fig. 8, A7 represents the ratchet-wheel of the adjunct in the time-lock. I7 is one of the tumblers,-or the'driving-wheel of the combinationlock. 'Ihe connecting-link is composed of the pawl B7, rack-bar O7, pinion D7, arm G7, and

' when the ratchet A7 of the adjunct is at rest,

are the rack on bar C7 and the pinion D7, operated by the ratchet and pawl E7 F7and arm G7, through the projection L7 on the tumbler I7.l

The ratchet E7 is secured to pinion D7, and arm G7, which carries the pawl F7, vibrates upon the same shaft. Each time the arm G7 is thrown back by the projection on the tum vbler the ratchet E7 and pinion D7 are turned by the pawl F7, and the bar (l7 of the -link is elevated; and if the ratchet A7 is stationary the pawl B7 will retain the bars C7 in position while the arm G7 swings back, and its pawl takes a new bite in ratchet E7. The bar G7 is arranged in the rear of the tumblers, and does not interfere with their rotation.v

When the bar C7 is elevated to the position shown in dotted lines, the combination can be set and the safe opened. It isevident that if the ratchet A7 is revolving it will let the link drop before the combination can be set.. 'Ihe projection H7, extending from the rear end ot pawl F7, and entering between theA teeth oi' the rack, will prevent the bar G7 from fallingto the position shown in dotted line if the safe were turned over. The end ot" arm G7 is hinged so as not to obstruct the tumbler when turned in the opposite direction. a

In Fig. 9 the double pawl F8 of the connecting-link swings on arm G8 from the top of the case. I8 is a stud, and J8 a setlscrew, to stop the arm G8 and keep the double pawl F8 in its proper position. C8 is a wheel keyed eccentrically upon shaft D8, and B8 a yoke, which has a vertical motion as the cam C3 is revolved.

To the lower end of this yoke- (shown broken away) is to be connected the dog or (logging angle-bar. M8 and N8 are two ratchet-wheels keyed on shaft D8. A8, which carries pawl E8, is a lever-arm, journaled loosely upon the same shaft. K8 is the ratchet-wheel of the time-piece, and Q8 the tumbler, with a projection, P8, for operating the ratchet M8 through arm A8 and its pawl E8. The arm A8 is composed of two parts, hinged together at 08. When ratchet M8 is revolved the double pawl F8 will, if held by the ratchet K8, restrain it from moving back with its pawl. This operation is continued until shaft D8 is turned half a revolution. This elevates the yoke and permits the safe to be opened. While ratchet K is revolving this cannot be accomplished because the shaft D8 and yoke B8 can then always return to the lowest position by gravity.

Fig. 10 shows a modication, in which a chain and sprocket wheel takes the place of the ratchet-wheel of the adjunct in the timepiece.'

In the forms shown in Figs. 11, 12, and 13 the connecting-link is controlled not only by its adjunct or support-in the time-piece, but in addition thereto by a set of permutationtumblers, which so guard it, after the support in the time-piece' becomes stationary, that it cannot act on any part of the lock for unlocking purposes until these permutationtumblers have been set up.

In Figs. l1 and l2, which are transverse sectional views of the same lock, A8 is the arbor of the combination-lock. Eccentrically keyed to this is the wheel B8, which has a rib projecting from its periphery. G8 is a ring fitted on wheel B8. It has two rabbets turned into its inner circumference. Into the inner of these the rib-projection on wheel B8 enters. The wheel and ring are held together by a washer,f8, which drops into the outer rabbet and holds the parts together with sufficient friction to enable the ring to remain stationary in its seat in the operation of setting the tumblers of the combination-lock. D8 is a pin projecting from the face of ring G8, which engages with pin G8 when in the proper position, and drives the tumblers. In the drawing the pin D8 is shown at its greatest distance from the center of arbor A8, and while in this position it will pass the pin G8, but if the ring C8 is held still while the arbor is turned half a revolution, the pin D8 is brought to its shortest distance from the arbor. It will then be in the position to-strike G8 and loperate the tumblers.

The upper set of tumblers, which are provided to guard the connecting-link and their driving-wheel, are precisely the same as the tumblers of the combination-lock, except that the driver revolves upon pin A18, and is driven by a chain passing over the sprocket-hubs of B8 and B18. K8 is an arm, and L8 a pawl of the connecting-link, and M8 the ratchet or adjunct of the time-piece. I8 is the angle-bar of the upper permutation-tumblers. It has a piece, J8,secured to it, which has a circular opening, to permit the pin D18 to be carried around within it, and an arm extending down into the lower case. Y

When the ratchet-Wheel M8 is stationary, if the arbor A8 is revolved, it will, through chain N8, revolve the driving-wheel B18, and pin D18, striking against projection k8 on arm K8, will hold ring C18 while B18 is turned half a revol lution. This carries pin D18 inward until it passes the point 768 of K8, and is in a position to engage with piu G18 on tumbler E18, when the combination of the upper tumblers may be set up, the ring O18 being held sufficiently tight in its seat by friction. When this combination is set, the angle-piece I8 drops into the notches of tumblers E18, and piece J8 drops to a position to stop-pin D8 of the lower driver until, by revolving B8, it is brought to a position to engage pin G8, when the lower tumblers E8 can be set, and the safe opened. The driving-wheel and tumblers are disconnected by revolving the arbor half a revolution after a pin in the back tumbler strikes a stationary projection, H8.

In Fig. 13 the upper setv of tumblers and their driver are constructed and arranged like the ones just described, Figs. l1 and v12, and are operated in the same way, through a sprocket and chain, by a projection on the lower tumbler. In this form the upper combination, when set, removes a dog from the bolt. In these forms, Figs. 11, 12, and 13, as there are two sets of combination-tumblers, if desirable, the presence of two persons may be made necessary to open the safe.

Fig. 14 is a horizontal section, and Fig. 15 a plan view, of another modification. In this form the drivin g-wheel, to set'the tumblers, is constructed substantially the same as in Figs. 11, 12, and 13, and the operation of connecting and disconnecting the driving-wheel and tumblers is the same. The connecting-link is an oval yoke, which slides on pins fixed in the case, and carries a pawl to engage the ratchet-wheel or adjunct in the time-lock. The tumblers are driven by a crank-arm, which is long enough to be operated by the pin in the driving-wheel when said pin is at its nearest point to the center of revolution but the pin Will pass the arm when at its farthest point from the center of revolution. When the ratchet of the time-piece is'in motion the link will be carried back and forth by the drivingplu. becomes xed, and causes the pin to move inward to a position to operate on the crankarm of the tumblers. The stump projecting inward from the yoke is for the purpose of bringing the drivingpin into the same known position when the tumblers are to be operated.

Fig. 16 is a sectional plan, and Fig. 17 an elevation, of a form in which the connection between the time-piece and the lock is a shaft, E11, operated by the time-piece through pinion D11. J 11 is the driving-wheel, which is se- When the ratchet is held still the yoke cured on shaft E11. T11 is a similar wheel, and I11 a cog-wheel, both journaled on stud-pin V11.

, M11, N11, and P11 are cog-wheels, sleeved over each other and shaft L11, around which they revolve. Each of these sleeves or hubs carries a tumbler, R11, which fits it suciently close to be carried by it when it revolves, and yet allow the tumbler to slip around upon it when the hub is stationary. The wheel M11 is revolved bycog-wheel 111, N11 is revolved in the opposite direction by an intermediate cogwheel, and P11 in the same direction `as M11 by a second intermediate cog-wheel.

The operation of this form of lock is as follows: As driving-wheel J11 revolves it will, when its pin reaches the pin in wheel T11, re-

lvolve it. After this has revolved the proper distance it will strike the pin in 111. The tumblers R11 of the combination-lock will now be set in motion, and the combination for opening the lock cannot be set by its arbor so long as the time-piece runs, for if the notch in one of the tumblers should be brought to the proper position under the angle-bar, and the tumbler released to set the next, the rst will be carried out of position by the cog-wheel on whose hub it is seated, and which is being revolved by the time-piece.

The distance the pins in the wheels J 11, T11, and I11 are set apart determines the time the clock will run without revolving the tumblers.

Some of the metal is cut away from the inner circumference of hubs M11 and N11, so as to leave the bearings at the ends, and lessen friction.

These figures, 16 and 17, illustrate an example where the adjunct is directly connected to the time-piece. The adjunct here is composed of the pinion D11, the shaft E2, and the driving-wheel J 11, while the intermediate link begins with wheel T11, and ends with the sleeves of the cog-wheels M11, N11, and P11.

It will be observed that in all the forms of the invention where false tumblers are combined with the regular tumblers of the nontime lock, the act of setting the regular tumblers will also set the false tumblers, provided the time-movement stands still; also, that in all the forms of the invention shown the person or persons in charge of the safe must go through precisely the same manipulations, and no other, to open it, no matter whether the time-lock stopped at or before the appointed hour,and that this manipulation is the same as would be required to open the non-time lock irrespective of the pressure or absence of the time-lock.

l. The combination of a time-piece, the adjunct connected and operating therewith, the non-time lock, and an intermediate link or mechanism between the adjunct and an operative part ofthe non-time lock, to assist in setting the combination of the lock when the adjunct in the time-piece is ixed, and to remain inoperative when said adjunct is moving, substantially as specified.v

2. The combination, substantially as specified, of the fixed shaft, the hub S loose thereon, and carrying the fixed ratchetGand loose pinion H,provided with a wing, U,and the winged hub T V, which is permanently interlocked with hub S, and is adapted to slide on the fixed shaft, to be engaged alternately by the said shaft and by the said pinion.

3. The combination, substantially as specitied, of the interlocked hubs S and T, seated on a liXed shaft, shell N for moving hub T, to lock it to and unlock it from said shaft, and the pin Q and dial I for determining the hour of unlocking hub T from the shaft, and throwing it into gear with the time-movement.

4:. The combination, substantially as specified, of a regular tumbler of a nontiine lock,

a false tumbler adapted to be revolved there- 

